Praise be to Allaah.
There is no doubt that Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj are two huge
nations of the sons of Adam. Anyone who reads the story of Dhu’l-Qarnayn and
how he dealt with this nation in Soorat al-Kahf will know for sure that
they exist and that the barrier which was built is not metaphorical or
imaginary, but is a physical barrier built of iron and melted copper. The
basic principle is that we should take this Qur’anic text as it is, without
resorting to any kind of misinterpretation or trying to twist the intended
meaning. The Qur’aan has told us how the barrier was built and what materials
were used, so it is not right to say that it is a metaphorical or imaginary
barrier. In Soorat al-Kahf, Allaah has told us the story of the Muslim
king and the great leader Dhu’l-Qarnayn (may Allaah have mercy on him):
“Until, when he reached between two mountains, he found,
before (near) them, a people who scarcely understood a word.
They said, ‘O Dhu’l-Qarnayn! Verily! Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj
are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order
that you might erect a barrier between us and them?’
He said: ‘That (wealth, authority and power) in which my
Lord has established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with
strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier.
Give me pieces (blocks) of iron,’ then, when he had filled
up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said, ‘Blow,’ till when he had
made it (red as) fire, he said, ‘Bring me molten copper to pour over it.’
So they [Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj] were made powerless to scale
it or dig through it.
(Dhu’l-Qarnayn) said: ‘This is a mercy from my Lord, but
when the Promise of my Lord comes, He shall level it down to the ground. And
the Promise of my Lord is ever true.’”
[al-Kahf 18:93-98]
What indicates that these nations exist at present, and
indeed are attempting on a daily basis to get out and attack people, is the
hadeeth reported by Ibn Maajah with a saheeh isnad from Abu Hurayrah (may
Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that
Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj are digging every day until they can almost see sunlight,
then the one who is in charge of them says, “Go back, we will dig again
tomorrow.” Then Allaah restores (the barrier) and makes it stronger than it
was. (This will continue) until the appointed time. When Allaah wishes to send
them against the people, they will dig until they can almost see sunlight,
then the one who is in charge of them will say, “Go back, we will dig again
tomorrow, in sha Allah.” This time he will say “in sha Allah”, so when they
come back (the next day), they will find it as they left it, so they will dig
their way out and emerge to attack the people. They will dry up water (by
drinking it, because of their great numbers), and the people will seek to
protect themselves from them in their fortresses. They will fire their arrows
into the sky, and the arrows will come back down covered in blood (as a test
for them), and they will say, “We have defeated the people of the earth and
have gained the upper hand over the people of heaven.” Then Allaah will send
worms on the napes of their necks, which will kill them. The Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the beasts of the earth will grow fat
from their flesh.”
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